I think Truth and Justice is going to have some fun interactions, and even if the raw power level is a tick below War and Peace, that makes for a more fun cube card.
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I can't say I'm pleased to see you and must warn you I may have to do something about it.
EDH: UGEdric
Pauper: URDelver
Modern: UGRDelver
Draft my cube: Eric's 390 Unpowered
Land destruction seems much stronger than the other effects we've had on the swords before, which are generally 1-2 mana level effects e.g. Shock on Fire&Ice, Bear on Body&Mind, Raise Dead on Light&Shadow, etc. LD would probably be a 3-mana effect.
Certainly, it would represent an ability outside the norm. But, I don't think there is any explicit rule that they can't beyond the usual parameters; after all, doesn't Feast & Famine's untap represent something quite more powerful? I don't actually know what spells replicate an ability quite like it.
Although, it might be a bit too punishing if unrestricted. I wonder if it specifically targeted non-basics, or did some sort of Ghost Quarter effect, might it still be worthwhile, and more realistic to see?
I didn't think they'd go for a land destruction route with the gruul sword.
I was thinking they'd go somewhere along the lines of exiling the two or three top cards and be able to cast them until end of turn while being able to play additional lands this turn.. like the ones you'd exile too.
In my 450 unpowered, I run 5 swords, as well as Sword of Dungeons & Dragons, and all the other broken equipment. I have cut War & Peace and Feast & Famine for our brand new knives. I am slightly considering cutting Body & Mind, but only to keep my sword count low enough that they aren't affecting every draft.
If you are interested in mixing up your machetes, tally up the protection balance and see what happens. My sword spread now has an unbalanced protection coverage (slightly more protection against blue and less against green), however I'm happy with this change for a few reasons:
A) It boosts green's tendency to be the color that disrupts or is unabated by artifact plans. This is mostly flavorful, but it internally suggests green can be utilized for more than the super ramp archetype that appears in every single draft of my cube, which urks me.
B) I feel Blue is the least effective color to have protection against. Bounce effects are not too rare in my cube, but protection does not interact with counterspells, and blue creatures aren't exactly difficult to navigate around in combat (although against a control deck, those speed bump creatures can provide a lot more time for your opponent).
When assorting your swords, please consider what effect the protection spread could have. Other than the Moms, these are the only cards I use that make protection from colors such a game changer.
Sinew & Steel is the sword I am most excited for:
-BCS is +2 card advantage per swing, while much less consistent, that's on par or better than a FaI swing
-This sword kills swords
-destroying one planeswalker could prove worth the 5 by itself
-it can equip underneath oppressive prisony artifacts like winter orb and destroy them within a turn
-you can finally hit a walker and your opponent at the same time, which feels incredible
P.S. If you are dissatisfied with Body & Mind, please try Sword of Dungeons & Dragons. If you think a sword making a 2/2 to carry itself is cool, take a moment to consider that DaD makes a 4/4 FLYER that becomes a 6/6 FLYER that makes 4/4 FLYERS. The first hit is harder to make, but then... Who needs shoddy blue/green protection to get in? Not me. I have dragons.
Fire and Ice
Feast and Famine
Light and Shadow
Body and Mind
Sinew and Steel
War and Peace
Truth and Justice
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My opinion is that we have 3 tiers of swords right now:
Fire & Ice
-------
Body & Mind
Light & Shadow
Feast & Famine
Sinew & Steel
-------
Truth & Justice
War & Peace
If we get one more decent sword I think I'll cut War and Peace.
EDH: UGEdric
Pauper: UR Delver
Modern: UGR Delver
Draft my cube: Eric's 390 Unpowered
I'm kinda hoping to see some land destruction on a RG sword. Would that be too powerful? Would you cube it?
Although, it might be a bit too punishing if unrestricted. I wonder if it specifically targeted non-basics, or did some sort of Ghost Quarter effect, might it still be worthwhile, and more realistic to see?
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I was thinking they'd go somewhere along the lines of exiling the two or three top cards and be able to cast them until end of turn while being able to play additional lands this turn.. like the ones you'd exile too.
On hit:
"Exile the top 2 cards of your library. You may play cards exiled this way this turn."
&
"You may play up to two additional lands this turn."
We have plenty of cool green X spells, too, so I think that could work out really well even when you're at high land count.
If you are interested in mixing up your machetes, tally up the protection balance and see what happens. My sword spread now has an unbalanced protection coverage (slightly more protection against blue and less against green), however I'm happy with this change for a few reasons:
A) It boosts green's tendency to be the color that disrupts or is unabated by artifact plans. This is mostly flavorful, but it internally suggests green can be utilized for more than the super ramp archetype that appears in every single draft of my cube, which urks me.
B) I feel Blue is the least effective color to have protection against. Bounce effects are not too rare in my cube, but protection does not interact with counterspells, and blue creatures aren't exactly difficult to navigate around in combat (although against a control deck, those speed bump creatures can provide a lot more time for your opponent).
When assorting your swords, please consider what effect the protection spread could have. Other than the Moms, these are the only cards I use that make protection from colors such a game changer.
Sinew & Steel is the sword I am most excited for:
-BCS is +2 card advantage per swing, while much less consistent, that's on par or better than a FaI swing
-This sword kills swords
-destroying one planeswalker could prove worth the 5 by itself
-it can equip underneath oppressive prisony artifacts like winter orb and destroy them within a turn
-you can finally hit a walker and your opponent at the same time, which feels incredible
P.S. If you are dissatisfied with Body & Mind, please try Sword of Dungeons & Dragons. If you think a sword making a 2/2 to carry itself is cool, take a moment to consider that DaD makes a 4/4 FLYER that becomes a 6/6 FLYER that makes 4/4 FLYERS. The first hit is harder to make, but then... Who needs shoddy blue/green protection to get in? Not me. I have dragons.
This is still the best place for high-power-level cube chat & debate.
Here's to many more years at MTGS *clink*